I have learned that treating my body well has an enormous impact on my mental and emotional well-being. I have learned from the mistakes I have made, and know now that eating healthy and exercising are important, whether one has a genetic mutation or not.

At many points in the past 10 years, I have made decisions based on anxiety stemming from my mutation. I almost got married at the age of 24, not because I knew it was right, but in part because I thought if I did so, I could have children early and have a hysterectomy before the age of 30.

Learning I had a mutation changed my life. Cognizant that there is a 75 percent chance I will develop colon cancer by the age of 65, I do everything in my power to make sure it is nothing more than a polyp that can be removed.

Many individuals in the medical profession chalk disease up to genetics. And that is fair. Genetics play a big role. Yet studies continue to show that our lifestyle choices, although not 100 percent foolproof, play a huge role in making our genes for disease present themselves.

I admire Angelina for taking the unselfish view that she will do whatever it takes to be sure she will be around to parent her children. And I commend Angelina for making her decision public and thereby supporting other women who face an increased cancer risk.

It's bad enough living with the specter of recurrence from one form of cancer showing back up; I don't need to have to worry about another one. So, I'm electing to have my healthy breasts amputated as a preventative measure.